Rules Category Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater
Type of Rule Change Proposal Conservation
County or Location Information Kittitas County
Short Description Close the following: Gold Creek, Gold Creek Pond, and Outlet Channel (tributary to Keechelus Lake), including that portion of Gold Creek that flows through the dry lakebed.
Explanation Extends closed waters into lake bed to protect a threatened adfluvial population of ESA listed bull trout that migrate between Keechelus Lake and Gold Creek to spawn. There have been documented problems with anglers fishing in the creek within the reservoir boundary and claiming they are fishing in Keechelus Lake, which is open to fishing year-round. Staging/migrating adult bull trout can be targeted by unethical or uninformed anglers who think it is legal to fish in Gold Creek within the reservoir boundary. This change has already been made for the same reason at Box Canyon Creek (Kachess Lake), and Indian Creek and N.F. Tieton River (Rimrock Lake).
CONLEY, ALEX November 26, 2012 YAKIMA, WA Comments: The Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board supports this recommended change, which will address ambiguities in the current regulations and better protect an at-risk population of bull trout.
